A Mysterious Discovery
In 1978, a newly published Michigan Department of Transportation map contained two unusual town names: Beatosu and Goblu. Located in Ohio near the Michigan border, these towns did not exist, yet they appeared just like any other location on the map.
A Secret Message
The names were not random. “Beatosu” was a play on “Beat OSU,” referring to the University of Michigan’s football rivalry with Ohio State University (OSU). “Goblu” was short for “Go Blue,” the famous chant of Michigan Wolverines fans.
A Cartographer’s Trick
The prank was orchestrated by Peter Fletcher, a Michigan alumnus and chairman of the State Highway Commission. A devoted Wolverines supporter, he slipped the names into the official state map without being noticed.
The Prank Is Revealed
Once discovered, Ohio officials were not amused, and the fictional towns were removed from future editions of the map. Though the joke was short-lived, it remains one of the most famous pranks in cartography history.
In 1978, a newly published Michigan Department of Transportation map contained two unusual town names: Beatosu and Goblu. Located in Ohio near the Michigan border, these towns did not exist, yet they appeared just like any other location on the map.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/6YwuYLX1do
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) January 31, 2025